Hydraulic feed means



Dec. 27, 1960 G. H. APPEL 2,966,139

HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Filed March 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INI ENTOR.

GERHARD a APPEL ATTORNEYS G. H. APPEL HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Dec. 27, 19605 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1959 INVENTOR.

GERHARD H. APPEL BY M r- W ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1960 G. H. APPEL 2,966,139I HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Filed March 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FORWARDREVERSE VI4A FIG. 4

+ To DRAIN f INTAKE mmvrm GERI'IARD H. APPEL BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1960e. H. APPEL 2,966,139

HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS .FIG.5

INVENTOR.

GERHARD H. APPEL WIM ATTORNEYS Dec. 27, 1960 e. H. APPEL 2,966,139

HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Filed March 9, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

GERHARD H. APPEL QMEN 5; @1565 A TTOR/VEYS.

2,966,139 Patented Dec. 27, 1960 HYDRAULIC FEED MEANS Gerhard H. Appel,Belle River, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Appel Process, Ltd., Oshawa,Ontario, Canada Filed Mar. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 798,006

12 Claims. (Cl. 121-38) This application relates to feed means,particularly hydraulic feed means, useful for feeding workpieces throughthe forming dies of a forming machine; and is a continuation-in-part ofmy prior application Ser. No. 561,466 of January 26, 1956, and nowabandoned.

One object of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism which isadaptable to hold a workpiece rigidly while the forming dies are actingon it and to effectively prevent any axial movement of the workpiece bythe forces exerted on it by the dies. The feed mechanism thus preventsthe workpieces from skidding under the action of the dies whereby tominimize axial stresses in and eliminate fracturing of the workpiece.

Still another object is to provide feed means adapted to apply a morestable holding pressure to the workpieces during the forming strokes ofthe dies so that axial 610111 gation contrary to the direction of feedis minimized and a larger portion of the available energy is effectuallyemployed in producing the desired radial. deformation.

Still another object is to provide an improved Work feeding means whichinsures a workpiece remaining stationary while the forming dies areacting on it.

A still further object is to provide feed means simple and rugged inconstruction, eflicient and reliable in operation, and easily maintainedin proper working order.

More specifically, it will be understood that the feed means hereof isof the type that causes cyclical intermittent and alternate incrementalforward movement as well as blocking of the workpiece, and generally isof the type that includes a differential area piston with a hydrauliccircuit for controlling it.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a forming machine and feeding meanshereof.

Fig. 2 is a section view as if on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

' Referring to Figs. 1-3, the exemplary forming machine shown comprisesan annular housing 20 enclosing four forming die sets which include fourequally spaced radially movable dies 21 actuated by four die movers 22which impart radial forming pressures or thrusts in quick succession tothe dies and thus to a workpiece W in the throat of the dies and fedforwardly and axially of the group of dies by feed mechanism 75, 80, 90(Fig; 1) to be described in detail later.

The four die movers 22 are moved inwardly radially by four sets or pairsof cams 402 operating through four 1 sets or pairs of rollers 403. Thecams are on four setsor pairs of reciprocating driver rods 404terminating in four sets or pairs of eccentric rings 405 surroundingfour eccentrics 406 which in turn are secured to and are concentric withfour driven pinions 407 (Fig. 2) meshing with a ring gear 408 driven bya drive pinion 409 connected through a clutch 27 (Fig. 3) to a drivingmotor M.

The control for such clutch (Fig. 3) is established through a hydraulicvalve 173 whose piston 174 and rod 175 are connected to the clutchthrough a suitable fork 421.

For determining and adjusting the position of the forming strokeimparted to the dies 21 by the die movers 22, cams 402, rods 404,andeccentrics 406, there are pro;

vided four wedges 23 between the housing 20 and four sets of backingpads 424 and backing rollers 422. These wedges are actuated, that is tosay, advanced and re.- tracted for varying the positions of the strokesof thedies by individual ,hydraulic actuators 24, one of which isprovided for each of the die sets.

axially forwardly endwise between the dies.

In forming hollow workpieces, asuitably shaped and dimensioned mandrelis inserted in the work and posi: tioned within the area acted upon bythe dies.

During its passage through the forming dies, the workpiece may berotated about the longitudinal axis, par-' ticularly if it is to befinished with a rounded exterior surface.

Through the action of the clutch 27 and the drive parts previouslydescribed which are connected to the motor Fig. 3 is a fragmentary viewof a part of the system which starts the prime mover or motor of thesystem.

Figs. 4 to 6 are three position views of the feed means and controlcircuit in its various positions, namely, forward feed (Fig. 4) blocking(Fig. 5) and reverse (Fig. 6).

For purposes of illustration only, and not by way of limitation, asingle preferred form of invention and its application to a specifictype of forming machine have been illustrated and will here bedescribed.

The forming machine The operation and advantages of the feed mechanismconstituting the subject matter of the present invention will be morereadily appreciated by first considering briefly a construction andfunctioning of the forming machine with which it is associated, namely,the one illustrated in my copending application, Ser. No. 450,500 filedAugust 17, 1954. Such a forming machine is shown diagrammatically herein Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and reference to these figures will now be made.

M through such clutch, the dies are individually forced towards the axisof the workpiece. The forming pressures are delivered with great forceand rapidity.

Such pressures or thrust on the workpiece, radially inwardly, produce byreaction rearward endwise thrust on the workpiece as a reaction from andduring these radial 5 or rearwardly skid relative to the dies.

The workpiece It addies. This operation and that of the forming machineare effectively coordinated by suitable interlocking controls.

Although the parts now to be described will be described more in detaillater, it will be observed that the workpiece W is connectedmechanically to a workpiece feed piston rod 80 (Fig. l)' in a work feedcylinder 75 having a differential areapiston 9i) and controlled for thepurposes just above mentioned by a valve V9 (Fig. 1).

Piston 90 on rod 89, in cylinder 75, is a differentially acting pistonhaving a greater effective area at one face than at the other. The rearface here presents the greater effective area and consequently thepiston is advaneed in a work feeding direction when both ends of the,cylinder 75 are connected to a common source of fluid under pressure.However, if the connection with the fluid source is closed, fluid islocked in the cylinder and rearward movement of the piston is positivelyprevented.

Hydraulic system The forward, and reverse movement and blocking of thepiston 90 in cylinder 75 is controlled and coordinated with theoperation of the forming machine by an electrical control system nothere disclosed.

Through the joint action of the electrical control system which isconnected to the hydraulic circuit for controlling the movements ofpiston 90 and also to the hydraulic circuit which controls the action ofthe movement of piston 174, and clutch 27, the various operational stepsin forming a workpiece are effected in proper sequence, with a minimumof supervision by the machine attendant who is required merely to loadand unload the workpiece and to manipulate a few simple push buttonswitches; to enable the machine to convert a raw work blank into afinished product.

Since-weareconcerned heremainly with the hydraulic circuitforcontrolling piston 90 we will now describe suchcircuitin detail withparticular reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

Forward feed-Fig. 4

The barrel of an operator control valve V8 is shifted to the left by theoperator acting through a solenoid which controls such barrel position.At a proper time, supply valve V9 opens, because it responds to the timewhen the eccentrics of the forming machine which control it, reach andremainin the feeding part of the cycle. Eluid pressure from a pump (notshown) acting through line 177, valve V8 (Fig. 4) line 179, and line179, shifts the barrel of-a selector valve V11 to the left and actingthrough open valve V9 also overcomes the spring of the breather checkvalve V14a and opens it and supplies pressure through line 183 to therear part A of the cylinder 75 to shift piston 90 to the leftfor forwardfeed. Piston 90 so responds because the area of its warm rightsideexceeds that of its forward or left side. The forward or left side of Bof cylinder 75 is bled or relieved of its pressure to right side Aforming aclosed loop or circuit through lines 182-186. Line 185 isclosedv at valve V11. Line 178 is closed at valve V8. Feed forwardcontinues while valve V9 remains open and this valve, opened by theeccentric-timing, remains open while forward feeding should'take place.

BlockFig; 5

When the eccentrics reach the forming moment, they cause valve V9 toclose at onceand without bleeding.

Despitetthat the rightor rearside of cylinder 75 is open. .to the leftor forward side of cylinder 75 but because the ing to bias the workpieceto the right and thus tending,

to bias the workpiece and the piston rod to the right. The circuitthrough cylinder 75 and parts 186-483 is 4 closed and remains so untilcertain of the valves are moved, either for reverse or retraction ofpiston 90, or until the eccentrics cause valve V9 to open again forfurther incremental forward feed.

Thus, once the operator moves the barrel of valve V8 to the left,alternately there takes place opening and closing of valve V9 (timed bythe eccentrics) and the consequent forward feed and blockage of piston90 until the operator terminates such cyclic action. and causes forwardfeed to terminate and reverse movement to start.

Reverse-Fig. 6

For this action, the operator acting through a solenoid shifts thebarrel of V8t0 the right which closes and deactivates 179V9, the forwardfeed parts; and connects pilot pressure line 178' to pump pressure at177, whereupon such pressure shifts the barrel of valve V11 to the rightto open line 185 to drain, the pressure in cylinder part A nowovercoming the spring of check valve V13; and also opens line 178 topump pressure. Now the pump pressure on the left side B of piston 90(177-V8 178) overcomes that on the right side A of piston 90, open todrain through 185V11-V13176 and shifts piston 90 to the right forreverse and this movement continues until the barrel of valve V8 isshifted to the left for forward feed.

Considering only the forward feed, intermittent feed, and blockingmeans, we summarize as follows:

Forward feedFig. 4.-With valve V9 open, pump pressure through 177179overcomes the spring of valve V14a and supplies pressure at rearcylinder part A. Forwardcylinder part B bleeds into part A through 186and V141: and forward feed takes place.

BlockingFig. 5.When' valve V9 is closed, valve V14'a will close. Rearcylinder part A cannot bleed, and hence rearward thrust on piston 90from the. left cannotmove piston 90 to the rear.

against skidding or movement in either direction whilethe dies are incontact with the workpiece. The mech anism thus minimizes axial stresseson the dies'and the workpiece, and thus eliminates fracturing or otherdamage to these parts. Furthermore, by holding the workpiece steadyduring the forming cycle, amajor proportion of the available energy iseffectively employed in producingthe desired radial. deformation andconsequently rearward axial deformation is minimized.

Now having described the construction herein disclosed, reference shouldbe had to the claims which follow.

I claim:

7 l. Means-for causing cyclical intermittent and alternate incrementalforward movements and blockings ofa member comprising a fluid pressuresource-using a non-compressible fluid, a cylinder, a differential areapiston therein whose forward'face is connected to said member and issmaller-in exposed area than its rear face, a forward movement fluidpressure line connecting the'pressure source to the rear of thecylinder, rearward of the piston,

' a forward bleeder line connecting the forward part of the cylinder,forward of the piston, to the rear part ofthe cylinder through theforward'pressure line; a quick open ing and closing supply valve in theforward pressureline for quickly opening and closing said forwardpressure line for controlling communication between the pressure sourceand the rear part of the cylinder, and located between the pressuresource and the forward bleeder line; means for cyclically andintermittently opening and closing said supply valve; and a forwardbleeder valve between the supply valve and the rear part of the cylinderwhich opens automatically when the supply valve opens, to permit theforward part of the cylinder to bleed to the rear part of the cylinderand which closes automatically when the supply valve closes, to preventbleeding of the rear part of the cylinder and thus to block rearwardmovement of the piston and the member.

2. A construction according to claim 1 including means for moving themember rearwardly comprising a reversing line connecting the pressuresource to the forward part of the cylinder and a reverse bleeder linefor bleeding the rear part of the cylinder while the supply valve andthe forward bleeder valve are closed.

3. A construction according claim 2 including an operator controlledvalve for selectively connecting the pressure source either to the firstnamed forward pressure line for forward incremental movement of thepiston or to the reversing line for reverse movement of the piston.

4. A construction according to claim 3 including a selector valve forselectively connecting either the forward part of the cylinder throughthe forward bleeder line to the rear side of the cylinder while closingthe reverse bleeder line, or the rear part of the cylinder through thereverse bleeder line to drain while closing the forward bleeder line,said selector valve being operable automatically by and in response tothe movements of the operator controlled valve.

5. Means for causing cyclical intermittent and alternate incrementalforward feed movements and blockings of a ram member comprising a fluidpressure source using a non-compressible fluid; a cylinder; adifferential area piston therein whose forward face is connected to saidram and is smaller in exposed area than its rear face; a forward feedmovement fluid pressure line connecting the pressure source to the rearof the cylinder rearward of the piston; a forward bleeder line connectedto the forward part of the cylinder forward of the piston for bleedingit; a quick opening and closing supply valve in the forward feedpressure line for quickly opening and closing it for controllingcommunication between the pressure source and the rear part of thecylinder; means for cyclically and intermittently opening and closingsaid supply valve; and a forward bleeder valve in the pressure supplyline between the supply valve and the rear part of the cylinder whichopens automatically when the supply valve opens to communicate thepressure line to the rear part of the cylinder and also to permit theforward bleeder line to bleed for forward feed and which closesautomatically when the supply valve closes to block and thus preventbleeding of both parts of the cylinder and thus to block rearwardmovement of the piston and'the ram.

6. Means according to claim 5 wherein the forward bleeder line connectsto the pressure line between the two valves for bleeding the forwardpart of the cylinder to the rearward part of the cylinder when theforward bleeder valve is open.

7. A construction according to claim 5 including means for moving themember rearwardly comprising a reversing line connecting the pressuresource to the forward part of the cylinder and a reverse bleeder linefor bleeding the rear part of the cylinder while the supply valve andthe forward bleeder valve are closed,

8. A construction according to claim 5 including an operator controlledvalve for selectively connecting the pressure source either to the firstnamed forward pressure line for forward incremental movement of thepiston or to the reversing line for reverse movement of the piston.

9. A construction according to claim 5 including a selector valve forselectively connecting either the forward part of the cylinder throughthe forward bleeder line to the rear side of the cylinder while closingthe reverse bleeder line, or the rear part of the cylinder through thereverse bleeder line to drain while closing the forward bleeder line,said selector valve being operable automatically by and in response tothe movements of the operator controlled valve.

10. A machine comprising a set of dies defining a workpiece receivingdie throat; means for causing cyclical intermittent and alternateadvance and retracting movements of the die set; means for causingcyclical intermittent and alternate incremental forward feed movementsand blockings of a workpiece in said die throat; and a common controlfor the die moving means and the feed and block means for timing feedand blocking of the workpiece to retraction and advance of the die setrespectively.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the workpiece feed andblocking means comprises a ram, and a hydraulic cylinder and pistonmotor.

12. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the workpiece feed andblocking means comprises a ram and a hydraulic cylinder and difierentialarea piston motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

